Written answers

Thursday, 27 September 2007

Department of Agriculture and Food

Live Exports

5:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the countries to which Ireland is prohibited to export live cattle; the reason for the prohibition in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21326/07]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is banned from exporting live cattle to most countries outside of the European Union. This is because of the worldwide ban on live animals and beef products from Ireland and other EU member states following the BSE crisis in the EU in late 2000.

There had been a good trade in live animals to the Lebanon in recent years but it has declined due to commercial reasons.

With the abolition of all export refunds for live exports it is unlikely that markets can be secured outside the EU because of the lower market returns there.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps which she is taking to promote the live export of sheep to continental Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21327/07]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There is a good trade in the export of live sheep to Northern Ireland and Great Britain but there has been no such trade to continental Europe for many years. Trade in that direction has been in the form of chilled lamb carcases and value-added cuts for which there is strong demand. Irish sheepmeat exports account for about two thirds of total sheepmeat production, the balance being consumed on the domestic market.

Bord Bia is responsible for the promotion of Irish meat exports.

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